April 2016 Archive

Coaches For Pastors: An Index Of The Identity Of American Culture And Evangelicalism

by R. Scott Clark on April 14, 2016 | 6 Comments

With the stench of decades of sweat fixed permanently in the air, its tile floor, and its fan-shaped basketball hoops mounted to the brick wall—the only protection against which being a thin, worn wrestling mat—the Community Center was the epitome of an . . . Continue reading →

Strangers And Aliens (16c): Defending The Faith (1 Peter 3:13–17)

by R. Scott Clark on April 13, 2016

  13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15but in your . . . Continue reading →

Why Studying Western Civ Matters

by R. Scott Clark on April 13, 2016 | 2 Comments

…learning about Western culture isn’t simply about undertaking a cohesive study of the history, philosophy, literature, and arts that have enormously influenced the world in which we all live. It is also about learning how to express ideas effectively, how to separate . . . Continue reading →

Calvin Contra Theonomy (1536)

by R. Scott Clark on April 13, 2016 | 2 Comments

For there are some who deny that a commonwealth is daily framed which, neglecting the political system of Moses, is ruled by the common laws of nations. Let other men consider our perilous and seditious this notion is.; it will be enough . . . Continue reading →

Does The IRS Have Secret Procedures For Auditing Churches?

by R. Scott Clark on April 12, 2016

Alliance Defending Freedom asked a federal district court Friday to order the Internal Revenue Service to identify records it has withheld for nearly two years that are related to secret procedures for investigating churches. The existence of the secret procedures became known . . . Continue reading →

Dort: When Believers Fall Into Sin

by R. Scott Clark on April 11, 2016 | 3 Comments

Breaking news: Christians, believers, sin. Sometimes they fall into grievous sin. David, the man after God’s own heart, not only lusted after another man’s wife, he abused his office, committed adultery, planned and executed a murder conspiracy. Peter, as a disciple, denied . . . Continue reading →

In Praise Of (Renaissance) Humanism

by R. Scott Clark on April 9, 2016 | 1 Comment

In article 10 he defined the literal sense just as most traditional evangelical and Reformed interpreters would: the sense intended by the author. This is an important correction to the late-modern subjectivist move to elevate the reader and his subjective experience of the text over authorial intent. Thomas represents a broad classical and Christian consensus about how to regard authors and texts. Augustine had argued that reading a text according to the author’s intent was an act of charity, a way to love one’s neighbor as one’s self. Continue reading →

Heidelcast 101: Presbytopia

by Heidelcast on April 5, 2016 | 2 Comments
Heidelcast

What’s the big deal about being Presbyterian or Reformed? After all, isn’t it enough to love Jesus? Honestly, no. Of course you should love Jesus but then what? If someone else personally paid for all your legal offenses out of his own . . . Continue reading →

Office Hours: The Holy Spirit In Paul’s Epistles

by R. Scott Clark on April 4, 2016
Office Hours

When Reformed and Presbyterian Christians think of Paul we might think first of Paul as the New Testament theologian of grace, of salvation, of unconditional election but he might just easily be called the theologian of the Holy Spirit. Where we might . . . Continue reading →

Dort 5.1–3: Reformed Realism On Sanctification

by R. Scott Clark on April 4, 2016 | 1 Comment

One of the lesser known aspects of the battle with the Remonstrants (Arminians), was that they, the Remonstrants, were not satisfied with the Reformed doctrine of sanctification. That continues to be a problem today. In the 18th and 19th centuries powerful voices within what we today call “evangelicalism” were also dissatisfied with the older doctrine. They wanted more. Some of them, deeply influenced by the Remonstrants, articulated a doctrine of Christian perfection, a doctrine that believers can, if they will, attain “entire perfection” (sinless sanctification) in this life. In our day, even among some who think of themselves as Reformed (principally because they identify with the Reformed doctrines of election and the atonement) teach a version of perfectionism. Since no one in this life ever actually achieves sinless perfection, such an approach to the Christian life is bound to create a crisis of assurance. Continue reading →

Strangers And Aliens (16b): Defending The Faith (1 Peter 3:13–17)

by R. Scott Clark on April 3, 2016

Thus, “and in your hearts sanctify Christ the Lord prepared always unto a defense to everyone seeking a word (or reason) for the hope in you….” The scenario that Peter has in mind was not theoretical. About the very same time he was dictating these words (to his secretary) for the churches in Asia Minor (W. Turkey) Christians in Rome were undergoing a violent, horrible persecution at the hands of a madman, Caesar Nero. Peter and the other Christians knew that before the soldiers laid hands upon a Christian and hauled him before the authorities, one must have resolved some truly basic questions. Who am I? What is my only comfort in life and in death? Am I prepared to suffer and, if necessary, to die for Christ, who gave himself for me? Continue reading →